Medical appliance



March 18, 1941. s. v. LAUB I MEDICAL PPLINCE.

Filed NOV.- 3, '1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 18, 1941. s v LAUB 2,235,436

MEDI CAL AFPLIANCE Filed Novf 3, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 vg, i

a5 Y E -E'- -l 9 m, A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 1s, 1941 y 2,235,436 `4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEDICAL APPLIANCE Stanley V. Laub, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 3, 1939, Serial No. 302,637

8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-2) This invention relates generally to the ileld test method. Again, it is not so pleasant from of medical appliances and it h as particular relathe patients point of view to have these bandages tion to appliances on the order of bandages partly removed for each observation of the skin which may be' applied to skin surfaces. reaction as the pulling of adhesive from the While the invention may have different appli skinvsurface certainly involves discomfort. Such 5 cations, it particularly concerns the conducting disadvantages are very much more pronounced in of allergenic tests for the purpose of determining the event the patients are infants 0r children. the sensitivity of patients to different allergens. While otherrdisadvantages may characterize For example, a patient suffering with hay fever the procedure, at least the foregoing contribute 10 may be given an allergenic test to determine his considerably to discouragement ofallergenic test- 10 sensitivity to different plant pollens. Such ing. In most instances perhaps the family phyallergenic tests are conducted normally by applysician does not want to personally make the tests ing each of the allergens to a scratched surface owing to the time and tedious efforts required, on the skin and it follows from this that numerwhile on the other hand the average family will ous areas of skin surface must be scratched if find it diiicult, if not impossible, to have proper the test is to be at all comprehensive. The conallergenic tests made by specialists in this field duction of allergenic tests in this manner has due to the cost involved. When it'is considered many disadvantages. In the first place, a great that allergenic testing is `of great importance not amount of time is required on the part of the only for the purpose of determining the particuphysician to apply the allergens v in separated lar types of pollens involved in a case of hay fever 20 areas and moreover the work is extremely tedibut also for determining the patients sensitivity ous, especially `if a large number of allergens to foods and other agents to which humans are are applied. With the present method of applisubjected, any improvement which will enable cation of allergens, especially when the powdered and encourage a greater number of people to type of allergen isused, great care is required have such tests made necessarily becomes highly 25 to prevent one powdered allergen from being desirable. blown from one area of the skin to another and, One object of the present invention is to prosince an extremely small amount of the allergen vide improvements in allergenic testing which will produce a reaction on an abraded skin surwill allow such tests to be made without requirface, it becomes easily understandable how one ing much time or effort on the part of the physi- 30 v allergen may contaminate another area of the cian, to the end that endeavors on his part, as

skin to which a distinctly different allergen is well as thepatient, in this direction will 4be to be applied without the investigator being encouraged. aware of the contamination and thus produce a Another object of the invention is to provide false or misleading result. Unless `one is skilled a medical appliance in the form of a bandage 35 in the procedure, it is difficult to properly space which includes different allergensV properly lothe different allergens on the skin surface in cated and maintained in good condition until an eicient manner so as to prevent one reaction used, and which may be applied to the skin from encroaching on another, in the case of posiwithout requiring much time or eiort on the part o tive reactions, and stillpermit of a conservation of the physician. 10 of the available skin surface when a great many Another object of the invention is to provide tests are required. Again, if the investigator an allergenic testing appliance in the form of contemplated the use of alseries of patch, instead a bandage which is of such character that the of scratch, tests, a great deal oftime would have skin reaction to different allergens may be obto be consumed in removing the individual allerserved from time to time without removing the 45 gen bandages in order to determine the reactions bandage from the skin, and accordingly which of each on the specific skin area. Unless these may be retained on the skin until the test is individual areas were carefully marked beforecompleted. hand one can readily see how extreme confusion Another object of the invention is -to provide might evolve from such a procedure. an allergenic testing bandage ready for applica- 50 From the .patient's point of view, it is not tion to the skin wherein the allergen is preserved pleasant to have a. large number of allergens apin good condition until used, by means of a closed pliedto different skin areas especially where recontainer substantially impervious to air and peated scratching or repeated application of sepmoisture and forming a part of the bandage.

5l arate bandages is required, as with the patch Another object of the invention is to provide 55 as mentioned wherein the allergen is covered by a layer of such impervious material that when it is applied to the'skin area, maceration of the skin area will occur due to the fact that the accumulation of perspiration from the skin will be sealed from the outside air, the perspiration thus acting as a macerating agent to the top layer of the skin and thereby permitting of reaction of the allergen at the desired anatomic layer of the true skin.y

Another object of the invention in general is to provide an allergenic testing appliance which includes an` allergen combined with an abrasive material to the end that massaging of the allergen and abrasive material simultaneously on the skin will cause the desired abrasion of the skin, thus permitting direct action of the allergen on the abraded area without having to resort to 0 the more usual scratch method and also Without necessitating the massaging implement coming into immediate contact with either the allergen, abrasive materiaL'or. the skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrument for manually securing an abrasion of the skin and simultaneously applying a solution to he mixed with the allergen that is to be `applied to the skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an identifying chart for facilitating reading of the reactions by an investigator who may not be particularly skilled in the interpretation of the skin reactions when positive reactions occur or reactions without the necessity of removing y when a negative result is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide an allergenic testing appliance having a transparent material which permits of reading of the the testing appliance .to do so.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, from the drawings -to which it relates, and from the claims hereinafter ser foi-tn I For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of an allergenic testing appliance constructed according to one form of the invention, with certain parts broken away for the purpose of showing interior structure;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the parts embodied in Fig. 1 prior to assembly;

Fig. 3 isa cross-sectional view on a larger pcigletaken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on a. larger slclaleltaken substantially along. the line I--I of g. 2 l Fig. 5 is a similar cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view on the order of Fig. 1, illusi trating another form' of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '1, illustrating v still another form f the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view similar'to Fig. 8, but illustrating the opposite side 'of the appliance shown by the latter ligure;

Fig.A 10 is a cross-sectional view on a. larger scale taken substantially along the line III-I0 of Fig. 8:

Fig. 1l is a cross-sectional view of an instrument having particular utility in connection with 75 the appliance shown'by Figs. 8,9, and 10;

an improved allergenic testing appliance such Fig. 12 is a view cn a larger scale taken substantially along the line I2I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 illustrates an identifying chart to be used for facilitating reading of reactions.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the appliance illustrated embodies a strip oi adhesive tape I0 having an adhesive II thereon and such tape, as best shown by Fig. 2, has openings or windows I2 located in linearly spaced relation. Over the adhesive side of the tape, al thin and flexible strip or layer I4 of transparent Cellophane or other suitable cellulose derivative is applied so that the Cellophane is held on the tape by the adhesive. The. strip I4 also is provided With openings I5 disposed in linearly spaced relation and the purpose of these'openings is to expose the adhesive in areas intermediate the openings" I2 in the tape. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the Cellophane Id covers the opening I2 in the adhesive tape and when the construction is viewed from the opposite side of the-tape, the latter appears to have .linearly spaced windows covered by transparent Cellophane. It will be observed that a substantial margin of adhesive is exposed along the sides and ends of the Cellophane I4 and it may be mentioned in this connection that this exposed adhesive, as well as the exposed adhesive seen through the openings I5, serves to attach the -appliance to the skin of a patient.

Between the openings I5 and between each of .the end openings and the end of the Cellophane strip, allergens I1, I8, I9, and 20 are attached to against.

Additionally, it may be preferable to mix an abrasive, such as pumce or one of the silicates, with the gummy allergen in order to provide a means for securing an abrasion of the skin if the material is rubbed against the latter. A

With the Cellophane strip I4 applied to the adhesive, as shown by Fig. 1, and ,with the allergens in place in the areas over the windows I2 in the adhesive tape. a second and similar strip of material 23 is to be applied over the Cellophane I4. 'I'his strip is narrower than the strip Il and has linearly spaced openings 24 slightly larger than the openings I5 in the strip I4 and which are so located that the two openings aredisposed one over the other although the edge of the opening I5 is within the edge of the opening 24 as will be seen in Fig. 1, so as to prevent possible engagement of the edge of the strip 23 around the opening 2l with the adhesive exposed within the opening I5. Over each of the allergens I1, the material in strip 23 is preformed or pressed, as indicated at 25, to form a covering spaced from the allergen in order that the latter will not contact and adhere to the strip 23.

Heavier reinforcing strips 30 of Cellophane or similar cellulose derivative are cemented to opposite marginal portions of the strip 23 as indicated at II in Figs. .4 and 5. These strips, as shown, by Fig. 1, project beyond the ends of the strips Il and 23 so that they may be gripped easily when it is desired to remove the -strip 23 from covering relation to the strip I I. It may be added that the strips I4 and'23 may have legs 32 and 33, respectively, at their ends and the strips 30-are in alignment with these legs although disposed inwardiy of their side edges. In all instances. the edges of the strip 23 are so relatedto the edges of the strip I 4 that the strip 23 cannot contact with the adhesive on the adhesive tape, and it followsfrom thisj that the strip 23 may be easily removed from covering relation to the strip I4. The strips 30, in pro-v jecting beyond the ends of the strips I4 and 23, may have slight adherence to the adhesive over a very short linear portion and'this may serve to hold the strip 23 in position prior to use. It may be added that the ends of the adhesive may have turned-over portions 34 covering the adhesive so as to provide non-adhesive grips advantageous in removing crinoline from the adhesive or removing the tape from the skin.

With the strip 23 in position over the strip I4, the entire adhesive side of the adhesive tape is then covered by crinoline 35, or, in other words, covered by conventional adhesive covering fabric. The crinoline adheres to the exposed adhesive along the margin of the strip I4 and in the exposed areas I5, and thus with the crinoline attached to the adhesive, the allergen containers formed between the two strips I4 and 23 are completely isolated one from another. Moreover, the crinoline holds the strips in good contact around the allergen receptacles formed between the two strips and thus` prior to use each allergen is preserved in good condition due to the factl that Cellophane and like cellulose derivatives are impervious substantially to water and air. With the crinoline attached, the article is in condition for sale and may be applied at any time.

It should be understood that any number of allergen receptacles may be provided and that the size of the appliance may vary depending upon the number of allergens. An entire group of allergens, such as axgrop required for testing a patients sensitivity in a hay fever condition, may be provided in a single appliance, and thus all of the allergens may be applied to a skin area at one time.

Assuming that the article is to be applied, the

tached tothe strip 31 over the windows I2, as previously described, but in this instance it will be noted that between the window I2, theCellophane is continued and the adhesive is n 'ot exposed vbetween the openings. A covering layer of Cellophane 40 to be applied over the Cellophane 31 first is cemented to the inner side of crinoline and thus the two layers of Cellophane are respectively attached to the adhesive tape and to the crinoline prior to bringing them( into assembled relation. Then the Cellophane 31 and crinoline are outwardly pressed or preformed lin regions over the allergens so as to form receptacles which allow separation of the covering Cellophane and the allergens. When the crinoline with the Cellophane attached is applied to the tape and rst layer of Cellophane, it adheres to the tape along the margins and the two layers of Cellophane contact around each receptacle, .so that the allergens are maintained completely separated and in air and watertightY receptacles which preserve the condition of such allergens. When it is necessary to use this appliance, the crinoline is removed from the adhesiveT tape I0 and removal of this also removes the covering Cello# phane due to the adhesion between the latter and the crinoline. lophane 31 thereon may then be applied tothe skin area and the allergens again willbe exposed through transparent'windows so that reactions may be observed. It may be mentioned that application of the adhesive against the skin will be sufficiently flat to hold the Cellophane around the allergen in contact with the skin and thus each allergen will be maintained in a sealed recess, 4so to speak, formed by the skin and the covering Cellophane. Abrasion of the sk in surface may be obtained in the sameway as previously described due to the abrasive present in the allergen material, or maceration of the skin may be awaited without first causing abrasion.

crinoline is pulled away from the adhesive tapeiV 'I'he construction shown by Fig. 8 is substanmoved easily by means of the strips 30 so as to expose the different allergens. Then the appliance is placed on the skin of the 'patient and pressed thereagainst so as to cause the tape to adhere to the skin along its margins and in the areas I5.

It follows that the allergens are applied to-.s'eparated skin areas and the tape, in conjunction with the marginal portions of the Cellophane around each allergen, practically will.,be sealed against the skin area. I

If patch testing is to b e practiced, maceration of the skin may baallowedrt" occur ,due to sweating, as the Cellophane will prevent evaporation of moisture from the skin. In this case the reaction of the macerated skin to the allergen may be observed after sulcient. time has elapsed. However, with the abrasive mixedwith the allergen, the physician can quickly secure suflicient abrasion of the skin and contact of theallergen with the abraded skin by rubbing the lexposed -Cellophane so as to cause the abrasive and allergen to be rubbed against the skin. It will be ap' parent that the reaction of the different allergens may be observed through the Cellophane wind ows and that it is not necessary to remove the appliance until thetest is completed. Any suitable indicia on the .appliance may be employed for identification of the allergen.

"In the form o f the invention shown by Fig. 7, the adhesive tape I Il is similarly provided with the windows I2 and -arstrip .of Cellophane 31 is applied next to the adhesive.'- .Allergens are atl .and then the covering Cellophane may shownnin 7 excepting a slit 421s formed in the Cellophane/31 along the location of each of the allergens and this slit may be sealed by any suitable sealing material or the gummy substance mixed with the allergen may be pressed over the' slit so as t`o eiect sealing thereof. It will be realized that only a portion of this gummy substance need bf2-,used to seal the slit and therefore that the allergen on the operative side of the Cellophane still may be preserved in good condition. 'I'his appliance may be used in the same way as that shown by Fig. 7, or an instrument may be pushed through the slit 42 for the purpose of securing abrasion by manipulation of thev instrument. For that matter, it may be stated that abrasion by means of an instrument may be secured in connection with the other embodiments of the invention, by forming a slit in the exposed Cellophane ,after the tape is applied to the skin, but it seems preferable to either secure the abrasion by means of the abrasive substance mixed with the allergen through rubbing it against the skin, or by rst forming a slit 42 that readilypermits penetration of an instrument suitable for the purpose.

Fig. 9 shows the reverse side of the constructionillustrated 'in Fig. 8 and in this view it will be readily understood how ,the allergens and skin reactions may be observed from time to time without removing the appliance.

Fig. 11 shows an instrument that maybe used for securing manual abrasionA of the skin surface through the slit 42. This instrument is in the The adhesive I0 With the Celgroup of allergens pertinent to determining food form of a dropper 50 having an end 5| on the order of a Von Pirquet scarier. An enlargement 52 at the peuter of the tube may be gripped and turned-back and forth in order to secure turning of the end 5| and abrasion of the skin. A bulb 53 onthe other end of the tube 50 enables drawing a weak soda solution into the tube and discharging a small quantity thereof in the region of the allergen in the event the physician desires to use such solution at the time the abralsion is eiected. It will be observed that the bulb` 53 is offset from the main body portion of the tube so as to provide for better hand manipulation of the instrument. In using this instrument, the projection 5l may be pushed through the slit 42 and then the instrument may be pressed against the skin and be turned back and forth within limits-to cause abrasion of the latter.

Fig. 13 shows an identifying chart comprising a Celluloid strip or sheet 59 having windows substantially corresponding in shape to the windows I2 in the tape. At the right of the windows, printed or drawn colored illustrations 6l, 62, 63,

64, and B5 are provided denoting respectively different degrees ofV positive reactions, and also a negative reaction. The investigator can selectively place the openings 60 over any opening I2 in the tape until the reaction on the skin, if any,

corresponds to one of the illustrated positive reactions on the chart and then the character of the reaction may be recorded; that is, the degree of positive reaction or that it is negative, if there is no positive reaction. 'I'he reaction to all of the allergens may be observed and compared in this way.

In any of the forms of the invention as described and illustrated, it will be appreciated that a single appliance may be attached to the skin and that this appliance may contain an entire group of allergens pertinent to any particular physical condition. Thus, the appliance may contain an entire group of allergens pertinent to hay fever, or it may contain an entire reactions. The appliance may -be easily employed and abrasion of the skin may be easily eiected bymeans of the abrasive material mixed with the allergen, or by using an instrument Ior this purpose as mentioned. Again the'allergens may bel allowed to act through maceration of the skin due to use of an impervious cellulose derivative which substantially prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin and prevents air from reaching the skin. In any case, it is a simple procedure to apply the article to the skin and it is not necessary to remove it until the tests are completed, since the skin reactions to the allergens maybe observed through the transparent windows. Thus, rapidity o1' application without tedious effort may be eected. Furthermore, observations may be made without great eiort on the part of the physician and certainly without tedious and time consuming eiIorts that are irritating to both physicians and patients alike. From the patients point of view, the appliance does not cause undesirable discomfort and even where abrasions are manually eilected through the Cellophane windows, any possible` discomfort is reduced to a minimum.

Although more than onel form 'of the invention has been illustrated and -described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made witholt departing from the scope ofv the appended c aims. v

What is claimed is:

1. A medical appliance comprising a thin layer of substantially impervious to air and water material, a second layer of material forming a cover for the rst layer, a medicinal preparation be- 5 tween the two layers, means releasably holding the layers together so'as to form a closed receptacle for preserving the preparation, and adhesive attached tothe first layer so that upon re moval of the second layer, the first layer and 10 medicinal preparation maybe applied to a skin surface and held thereto vby the adhesive.

2. A medical appliance comprising a thin layer of transparent material substantially impervious to air and moisture, a second similarly impervious l5 layer of material forming a cover for the first layer, a medicinal preparation between the two layers, means releasably holding the two layers together so as to iorm a closed receptacle for preserving the preparation, a'nd adhesive at- 20 tached to the transparent layer so that upon removal of the cover, the transparent layer and preparation may be applied to a skin surface and be held thereon by the adhesive, said adhesive and transparent layer being so arranged that the 254 skin surface is visible through such layer.

3. A medical appliance'comprising a thin layer of a cellulose derivative impervious to water and air, a second similarly impervious layer of material forming a cover for the iirst layer, a medic- 30 inal preparation between the two layers, means releasably holding the two layers together so as to form a closed receptacle for preserving the preparation, and an. adhesive tape over the back of the rst layer and having its marginal portions projecting beyond the margin of the-first layer so that the edges of the latter may be held against the skin by the adhesive, said first layer being transparent and the tape having an opening through which the reaction of the skin to the dierlng in kind disposed respectively in spaced relation on one side of said strip, cover means of similarly impervious character releasably disposed over the allergens so that each allergen is located between the cover and strip, and adhe- ,sive means on the strip for fastening it to a skin surface after the cover means is removed, whereby a group of different allergens may be simultaneously applied to a skin surface and be held in separated locations thereon.

5. A medical appliance to be. applied to the e skin, comprising a backing strip, an allergenic material disposed on the strip and which comprises an allergen and an abrasive substance whereby the skin in the region of the allergen may be abraded for allergenic reaction by man- -ual rubbing pressure applied lto the material,

and means for fastening the backing strip to the skin.

6. A medical appliance comprisnga thin layer of material substantially impervious to air and water, a second layer' of material forming a cover for the rst layer, a, medicinal preparation between the two layers and attached 'to the rst layer, and adhesive means on the first lever for fastening it to the skin after me second layer 7 is removed so that the preparation will be held againstthe skin surface. v

'1. An allergenic appliance to be applied to the .skin comprising a backing laver having allergenic material on one side and also having an' 7l abrasive substanceA in the region of the allergenic material whereby the skin inthe region of the material ,may be abraded for allergenic reac- ,tion by manual rubbing pressure applied to the layer after the latter is applied against the skin A surface.

material. an allergenic material disposed on the layer. and an abrasive substance on the layer in the region of the allergenic material whereby the skin in the region of the allergenic material may be abraded for allergenic reaction -by manual rubbing pressure applied to the layer after it is applied to the skin.

STANLEY V. LAUB.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,255,h56. i mmh 18, 19m.

STANLEY v. LAUB. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above nmbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page LL, second column, line 69, claim, for the word "lever" read -layer-; and that Athe said Letters Patent should be read with `this correction therein tl'nt the same may Confomto the record of the case in the Patent Office..

Signed and sea-led this 22nd day of April, A. D. 19M.

Henry Van Arsdal'e,

(Seal)l Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

